When Charlie makes these pickles, they do not last long.

Half Sour Pickles

• 12 pickling cucumbers- Kirby small cucumbers
• 1/4 tsp dill seed
• 1/4 cup pickling salt
• 1 tsp pickling spice
• pinch of sugar
• 2 large cloves garlic minced
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 2 1/2 quarts of water
• 1 jalapeno pepper, split and deseeded
• extra mustard seeds and black pepper seeds

1. Slice the cukes into 1/4 inch rounds
2. Boil the water, salt and vinegar in a large pot. Remove from the heat.
3. Add all spices, cukes and jalapeno
4. Place a plate or weight on top of the cukes to keep them submerged. Allow them to sit overnight ( about 8 hrs)
5. Put in jars and store in the refrigerator

Nutty Muffins

Our church is blessed with wonderful cooks. This recipe is one of Barbara Tomlinson’s signature dishes.

• 1/2 cup plain flour

• 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1 cup pecans
• 2/3 cup melted butter (no substitutions)
• 2 eggs

In a bowl, combine flour, brown sugar and pecans- set aside. Combine butter, eggs, mix well and stir in flour mixture until moist. Fill greased or paper lined miniature muffin cups 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Remove immediately from tin and cool on a wire rack. Barbara’s note: ” I add a little more than one cup of pecans. Careful not to overcook. I usually double this recipe when I cook it.

Cool Cucumber Sandwich

Sewanee, TN is a good day trip, especially to eat at Shenanigans. restaurant. If you are tired of chicken salad sandwiches, the Cool Cucumber Sandwich is a treat for you. We ate there two days in a row, then Charlie analyzed the sandwich and came home and made it to a tee. The recipe makes enough for two sandwiches with enough left over cream cheese, cucumbers, and onions for two sandwiches on another day.

• 2 cucumbers
• 1/4 cup chopped (in small squares) onion
• 1 12 0z tub of whipped cream cheese
• 2 Tbsp of mayonnaise
• Everything bagels
• 1 package of fresh dill
• salt and pepper
• 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp dried chives
• water
• 4 slices of Provolone cheese

1. Slice the cucumbers into thin round slices
2. Mix 4 cups of water with 1 Tbsp vinegar. Put the cucumbers in this mixture and let set in the refrigerator for about an hour.
3. Saute’ the onions in canola oil until clear. Set aside on paper towel to drain.
4. Chop the dill fronds
5. Drain and pat dry the cucumbers then salt and pepper them
6. Mix the cream cheese with 1 1/2 Tbsp mayonnaise, the chopped dill, and the 1 tsp of dried chives. Salt and pepper to taste.
7. Put the sandwich together. Half the bagel and spread lightly with mayonnaise on bottom half. Next sprinkle a few of the sautéed onions on the bottom half of the bagel. Place 2 thin slices of provolone cheese on top of the onions. Put cucumbers on the sandwich next. Finally, on the top half of bagel spread the cream cheese mixture.
8. Put each half together and enjoy

Latest Pottery

Watercolor Paintings

Several years ago on a Gatlinburg trip, I saw a bear painting that I liked. But instead of buying it, I decided I could paint one instead. So for a few years, I attempted several paintings which I was not satisfied with. Last May when we went back to Gatlinburg, I was on a quest to find that bear painting with a mama bear and her cub going up a hill. Of course, it was gone. So my painting began again. I just finished my bear paintings and they are hanging on each side of our bed.